Indonesia, Singapore boost defence ties amid global uncertainty

Asia News Network

3 days ago

August 7, 2025
JAKARTA – Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to deepen their defense cooperation through more joint exercises and military exchange programs, reaffirming on Tuesday their shared commitment to uphold international law and maintain ASEAN unity amid rising global instability.
As conflicts continue to escalate both within and beyond the region, the two neighbors emphasized their stance in favor of peace and dialogue, while remaining prepared to face potential threats, according to official statements from Jakarta.
Singaporean Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing began a two-day working visit to Jakarta on Tuesday as part of a broader diplomatic push focused on defense. He is scheduled to meet with a range of stakeholders, including government officials, military personnel and defense experts.
His visit follows a similar one just two weeks earlier by Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Defense Force Chief Vice Adm. Aaron Beng, who met with Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin to discuss enhanced military cooperation.
The top Singaporean general received a stately welcome at the Defense Ministry building in Central Jakarta before holding a closed-door meeting with Sjafrie, where the two discussed a coordinated response toward developing regional volatility.
'The two countries have agreed to continue to tighten our military relationship, as part of our effort to maintain regional stability and our conduct of good neighborliness,' the Indonesian Defense Ministry said.
The agenda also included discussions on expanding joint training and combined military exercises.
According to the official Singaporean statement, 'both ministers also discussed the ongoing geopolitical developments and emphasized the need for Singapore and Indonesia to work closely together, as well as the importance of open dialogue.'
With Southeast Asia's geopolitical landscape increasingly shaped by the rivalry between global superpowers the United States and China, and the international order growing more unpredictable, countries in the region have struggled in recent years to strike a delicate balance between cooperation and nonconfrontation.
Amid these shifting dynamics, Indonesia and Singapore, whose ties have been largely defined by strong economic interaction, have also felt the pressure. In response, the two countries agreed in 2022 to strengthen their defense partnership by finalizing the long-pending Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA).
Most recently, Indonesia openly expressed its interest in learning from Singapore's robust cybersecurity force, with its high-ranking officials discussing cooperation opportunities with SAF on the matter.
Following his meeting with Sjafrie, Chan delivered a keynote speech to around 250 members of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas), where he underscored the need for unity between the two nations.
'We are not competing with one another. The real competition is never between Singapore and Indonesia,' Chan said, adding that the real competition is how both face global uncertainties together.
'For Singapore, we firmly believe that a successful Indonesia is good not just for Indonesians, not just for Singaporeans, but also for the region and the world'.
Chan's itinerary in Indonesia also includes a visit to a military-operated kitchen supporting President Prabowo Subianto 's flagship free nutritious meal program on Wednesday.
The Indonesian statement meanwhile added that Chan's visit also covered broader regional issues and reaffirmed ASEAN's role in conflict resolution.
'Through minister Sjafrie, Indonesia reaffirmed the importance of maintaining good international ties to prevent conflict, as has been witnessed through the tensions between Thailand and Cambodia,' the statement said.
'As a sovereign nation, Indonesia is committed to upholding peace, but at the same time to readying for any potential threats,' it continued.